# Forest Stewardship Program

> Advice and site visits from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources Division (State) for MI, United States.

Official page: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/forestry/private/stewardship
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/mi-dnr-forest-stewardship-program · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** A professional forester helps you write a personal forest stewardship plan for your woods

The Michigan DNR's Forest Stewardship Program connects private landowners with professional foresters who inspect the land and prepare a personalized stewardship plan covering goals such as wildlife habitat, invasive species removal, forest health, tree planting and timber sales. The forester also explains related programs like the Qualified Forest Program. Michigan's conservation district foresters, funded through MDARD's Forestry Assistance Program, offer one-on-one site visits as well.

## Who qualifies

Private forest landowners in Michigan; no acreage threshold is stated on the program page.

## How to apply

Pick a plan writer from the DNR's Upper Peninsula or Lower Peninsula plan-writer lists, or contact a DNR service forester: Southern Lower Peninsula 517-449-5666, Northern Lower Peninsula 989-251-8004, Western UP 906-523-8842, Eastern UP 906-235-4361. The forester walks the property with you and drafts the plan.

**For:** Landowners, Farmers

> Note: Plan cost is not stated on the DNR page; it depends on the plan writer. Michigan no longer runs a state seedling nursery; the DNR points landowners to conservation district tree sales and private seedling nurseries.